In wake of nor'easter, Warren County declared a disaster area

The Federal Emergency Management Agency today announced the disaster declarations for a dozen New Jersey counties hit hard by last month's nor'easter have been expanded to Warren and Atlantic counties.

"It's good, because then we stay on the radar, of being an area that has constant flooding," Warren County Freeholder Director Everett A. Chamberlain said. "So that means that hopefully we get assistance when (flooding) does happen."

Chamberlain also said the declaration would call attention to the concerns by county residents over upstate New York reservoirs that they partially blame for flooding in their Delaware River communities. Residents have complained that the reservoirs, while conserving water for New York City, can during heavy storms overflow and dump on Delaware River communities downstream in New Jersey.

During the floods of 2004, 2005 and 2006, Chamberlain toured hard-hit areas of Warren, the same as three different New Jersey governors. In 2004, a wayward cottage floated down the Delaware and struck the Phillipsburg Free Bridge, eliciting oohs and ahs from gawkers holding camcorders.

Chamberlain said that although the damage last month wasn't nearly as bad as in the three prior floods, there were flooded homes in Harmony and Knowlton townships. Blairstown's downtown also was waterlogged.

"We had some houses flooded," Chamberlain said. "All the relief we can get is good ... They applied (for FEMA funding). You never know. Hopefully, you get it."

Under the latest public assistance declaration, federal funds will be made available to public entities in Warren and Atlantic counties sustaining losses from flooding and other damages, according to a news release from New Jersey's two U.S. senators, Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg.

"This expanded assistance is much-welcomed, and will be extremely beneficial to towns and public entities in New Jersey that are facing losses from last month's storm," Menendez said in a statement today.

"Towns in Atlantic and Warren counties today received a needed boost in federal aid to help them continue their recovery from last month's devastating storm," added Lautenberg, while calling on President Bush to expand the disaster relief across the entire state.